Deployable blind

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a deployable blind comprising a clothsupporting frame of adjustable width made up of a series of pivoting ribs joined by the ends of their lateral uprights and the rectilinear part of which, parallel to the pivoting axis of the said ribs, is telescopically adjustable in length; two extendable independent side cloths, fixed on each of the corresponding lateral uprights of the said ribs; and a covering cloth, rolled out from a roller, having a width substantially equal to the minimum length of the telescopically adjustable part of the ribs and independent of the side cloths which it covers at least partially regardless of the width given to the blind and being fixed only to the first of the ribs.

O Ulllted States Patent 1 91 1 3,732,912 Collet 1 May 15, 1973 [54]DEPLOYABLE BLIND 619,957 2/1899 Hettrick ..l60/64 75 I t C II t A l 1men or Jean 0 e nnecy France Primary Examinerl(enneth Downey [73]Assignee: A. Collet & Fils S.A., Annecy, Attorney- Larson,Taylor andHinds France 22 Filed: June 25, 1971 5571 ABSTRACT This inventionrelates to a deployable blind compris- [211 Appl' 156705 ing acloth-supporting frame of adjustable width made up of a series ofpivoting ribs joined by the ends of [30] Foreign Application PriorityData their lateral uprights and the rectilinear part of which,

I parallel to the pivoting axis of the said ribs, is tele- Juy9, 1970France ..7026562 p uy adjustable in g two extendable inde pendent sidecloths, fixed on each of the correspond- [52] US. Cl. ..l60/55,160/58,160/64 ing lateral uprights of the said ribs; and a covering [51] Int.Cl. ..E04f 10/06 Cloth rolled out f a roller, having a width substam[58] [held of Search ..l60/2l, 66, 68, 69, tiany equal to the minimumlength f the telescoPi- 160/711 72, 78, 79, 80, 73, 74, 56, 58, callyadjustable part of the ribs and independent of the 64, 1 55 side clothswhich it covers at least partially regardless of the width given to theblind and being fixed only to References Cited the first of the ribs.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 823,096 6/1906Armstrong ..l60/58 PATENTEU HAY 1 5 I973 SHEET 1 0F 2 DEPLOYABLE BLINDThis invention relates to a blind which may be deployed to form anawning, of the kind generally placed over the front of a shop window,outdoor cafes or restaurants, balconies or similar places.

It is known that in this type of blind, the cloth is sup ported like acarriage hood by a frame made up of a series of staying ribs articulatedon each other at their ends on each side of the opening.

As the dimensions of openings are not standardized, it has beennecessary in the past to make each blind according to special dimensionsand this represented a serious obstacle to their industrial manufacture.

The deployable blind according to the invention is designed to bemounted on such an opening and to be adapted to the width of the same.

An object of the invention concerns especially the largescalemanufacture of either complete blinds, cloth-supporting frames, or partsof such frames, which are immediately adaptable to openings of variousdimensions, so that one need only manufacture a limited number of blindsor different blind elements suited to practically all dimensions ofopenings on which such a blind may be placed.

The deployable blind according to the invention includes a. Acloth-supporting frame of adjustable width made up of a series ofpivoting ribs joined by the ends of their lateral uprights and therectilinear part of which, parallel to the pivoting axis of the saidribs, is telescopically adjustable in length, the last of these ribsbeing held, at least indirectly, on the said opening b. Two extendableindependent side cloths of symmetrical form, each having sufificientdimensions to cover one of the two lateral parts of the frame when theblind is deployed as well as the corresponding ends of the rectilinearparts of the ribs and fixed on each of the corresponding lateraluprights of the said ribs c. A covering cloth, rolled out from a rollermounted parallel to the upper edge of the opening, having a widthsubstantially equal to the minimum length of the telescopicallyadjustable part of the ribs and independent of the side cloths which itcovers at least partially regardless of the width given to the blind,this covering cloth being fixed only at its front edge to the first ofthe ribs and stretched freely on the other ribs on which it may slide.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lateraluprights of the ribs are joined together, pivotingly, by articulation,at their ends and each have, opposite the pivoting axis of the ribs, apart having a right-angle bend terminating in a rectilinear appendage.The appendages of the two uprights of a same rib each engagetelescopically in one of the two ends of a rectilinear cross-memberconstituting, with the said appendages, the rectilinear part of the ribwhose length is telescopically adjustable.

The rectilinear cross-members, consisting of simple rectilinearsections, may, if required, be cut to the de sired length or be replacedby longer ones without requiring the slightest modification in thelateral parts of appendages of the uprights in a desired position whichdepends on the width given to the blind.

The cloth-supporting frame, as a whole or in separate parts, may bestored and delivered to the installer who covers it during theinstallation. It is of course possible to completely prefabricate theblind, including its side cloths and its covering cloth.

According to the invention, the at least partial covering of the sidecloths by the covering cloth, whatever the width given to the blind, isobtained by giving this covering a maximum width which, for each rib, isgreater than the travel of the telescopic adjustment of the appendagesin the rectilinear cross-member.

Advantageously the rectilinear cross-member of each rib has a roundedsmooth surface, at least over the entire length of the part on which isfreely stretched and allowed to slide the covering cloth.

This rectilinear cross-member is advantageously made up of a tubeslotted on each end. Accordingly, said means provided for blocking thiscross-member on the appendages introduced slidingly, each in one of thetwo ends of the tube, consist of radial clamping screws each of whichgoes through a slot of the tube and bears on the edges of this slot withits head, on the side opposite the one on which the covering cloth isstretched.

The part of each side cloth covering the corresponding ends of therectilinear parts of the ribs is advantageously strapped on the end ofeach rectilinear crossmember by a sleeve surrounding this end, traversedand fixed to the end by the means provided for blocking the cross-memberon the corresponding appendage.

In order to increase the possibilities of widening of the blind, atleast one of the two side cloths is advantageously provided with anextra reserve cloth folded in one or more successive folds on thecorresponding ends of the rectilinear cross-members and extendingperpendicular thereto.

In order to increase the advance of the blind in relation to theopening, the last of the ribs may be advantageously held indirectly onthis opening by means of a cloth-covered extension with parallel ribsidentical to those of the blind proper and held at mutual distances bycross-pieces, this extension also being provided with extendable sidecloths and covered by the said covering cloth of the blind.

In addition, the lateral uprights may be themselves telescopicallyadjustable in length, side cloths of different dimensions being providedto be adapted to each of the lengths given to these uprights.

The invention together with further characteristics and advantagesthereof will be furthermore better understood by reference to thefollowing description and to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1is an elevated view, with certain parts eliminated, of a blind accordingto the invention deployed to form an awning.

FIG. 2 shows similarly the same blind equipping a wider opening.

FIG. 3 is a section along III-IIl of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows, to a greater scale, a bottom view of a part of the sameblind, one of its ribs being shown in axial section.

FIG. 5 shows, in a view similar to that of FIG. 4, a blind representinga variant.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and according to a preferredembodiment, the deployable blind includes a cloth-supporting frame heldbetween the sides 2 and 2a of an opening and composed of a series ofribs pivoting approximately around a common axis 1 and joined togetherby articulation on each other of the ends of their lateral uprights 4and 4a.

According to the invention, the rectilinear part of the ribs, parallelto the pivoting axis 1, is telescopically adjustable in length, so thatit is possible to adapt the width of the entire cloth-supporting frameof the same blind to openings of different dimensions, in particular toa larger opening 3, 3a as shown in FIG. 2.

Each lateral upright 4 or 4a have, opposite the pivot ing axis 1, a parthaving a right-angle bend terminating in a rectilinear appendage 6,respectively 6a. The appendages of the two uprights of a same rib eachengage telescopically in one of the two ends of a rectilinearcross-member 5 which may consist of a simple rectilinear section andconstitutes, with the said appendages 6 and 6a, the rectilinear part ofthe rib whose length is telescopically adjustable.

It will be noted that the manufacturer need only deliver to theinstaller, for each blind, the two lateral parts of the cloth-supportingframe, including the uprights 4, 4a and their appendages 6, respectively6a, articulated on each other, as well as a certain number of sectionsof long length in which he can cut out to the desired length thecross-members 5. The covering with cloth can be carried out by theinstaller.

Moreover, the whole blind includes two extendable independent sidecloths 7 and 7a, of symmetrical form, each having sufficient dimensionsto cover one of the two lateral parts of the frame when the blind is deployed as shown in the drawings. Each side cloth is fixed on each of thecorresponding lateral uprights of the ribs.

Besides, the blind includes a covering cloth 8, rolled out from a roller9 mounted parallel to the upper edge of the opening. This covering cloth8 has a width substantially equal to the minimum length of thetelescopically adjustable part of the ribs and independent of the sidecloths 7, 7a which it covers at least partially regardless of the widthgiven to the blind. This covering cloth 8 is fixed only at its frontedge to the first of the ribs and stretched freely on the other ribs onwhich it slides when the blind is actuated.

According to the invention, and so as to be certain that the coveringcloth 8 covers at least partially the side cloths 7, 7a, for all theintermediate positions between that of the minimum spacing of the ribs,shown in FIG. 1 for the smallest opening considered 2, 2a, and that ofthe maximum spacing of the ribs, shown in FIG. 2 for the greatestopening 3, 3a which may be equipped with the same blind, one gives tothe covering of the side cloths 7 and 7a by the covering cloth 8 amaximum width which, for each rib, is greater than the travel of thetelescopic adjustment of the appendages 6 and 6a in the rectilinearcross-member 5.

The rectilinear cross-member 5 of each rib has a rounded smooth surface,at least over the entire length of the part on which is freely stretchedthe covering cloth 8, making it possible, during the maneuvering of theblind, for the covering cloth 8 to slide freely over all theintermediate ribs to which it is not attached.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rectilinear cross-member 5 of each rib iscomposed of a tube slotted at 10 on each of its two ends. The appendages6, 6a, introduced slid- 6 ingly, each in one of the two ends of thetube, are secured in it by radial clamping screws 11, each going throughthe slot 10 and bearing on the edges of this slot with its head, on theside of the tube opposite the one used for supporting the covering cloth8.

One is thus certain that the head of the clamping screws 11 cannot rubagainst the covering cloth 8 during the maneuvering of the blind.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the part of each side cloth 7 or 7a covering thecorresponding ends of the rectilinear parts of the ribs is strapped onthe end of each rectilinear cross-member S by a sleeve 12 surroundingthis end, traversed and fixed to this end by the clamping screw 11 whichblocks the cross-member 5 on the corresponding appendage 6 or 6a. Onethus obtains a simple and effective attachment of these side cloths 7and 7a on the difierent ribs of the cloth-supporting frame.

In the variant shown in FIG. 5, and in order to increase thepossibilities of widening of the blind, at least one of the two sidecloths 7 and 7a is provided with an extra reserve cloth folded at 13a inone or more successive folds 13 on the corresponding ends of therectilinear cross-member 5 and extending perpendicular thereto. Thisextra cloth is fixed to the end of each cross-member 5, under thecovering cloth 8, by means of flat-headed screws 14 and 15 which thenare used as clamping screws for blocking the end of the crossmember 5 onits associated appendage 6 or 6a.

Although the blind according to the invention is shown, in FIG. 3, heldby its last rib in the opening 2, 2a, it is possible, in order toincrease its advance in relation to the opening, to hold the last of theribs indirectly on this opening by means of a cloth-covered extensionwith parallel ribs identical to those of the blind proper and held atmutual distances by cross-pieces, this extension also being providedwith extendable side cloths and covered by the said covering cloth 8 ofthe blind.

At last, the lateral uprights 4 and 4a of each rib may be themselvestelescopically adjustable in length, side cloths 7, 7a of differentdimensions then being provided to be adapted to each of the lengthsgiven to these uprights.

It must be understood that the preceding description is given by way ofexample only and does not in any way limit the scope of the inventionwithin which one would still remain by replacing the describedembodiment details by any other equivalent.

What is claimed is 1. A deployable blind designed to be mounted as anawning over the front of a shop window or the like and to be adapted tothe width of this opening, comprising:

a. a cloth-supporting frame of adjustable width made up of a series ofpivoting ribs joined by the ends of their lateral uprights and therectilinear part of which parallel to the pivoting axis of the saidribs, is telescopically adjustable in length, the last of these ribsbeing held, at least indirectly, on the said p g;

b. two extendable independent side cloths of symmetrical form, eachhaving sufficient dimensions to cover one of the two lateral parts ofthe frame when the blind is deployed as well as the corresponding endsof the rectilinear parts of the ribs and fixed on each of thecorresponding lateral uprights 0. a covering cloth, rolled out from aroller mounted parallel to the upper edge of the opening, having a widthsubstantially equal to the minimum length of the telescopicallyadjustable part of the ribs and independent of the side cloths which itcovers at least partially regardless of the width given to the blind,this covering cloth being fixed only at its front edge on the first ofthe ribs and stretched freely on the other ribs on which it may slide,

the lateral uprights of the ribs being joined together pivoting y, byarticulation, at their ends, and wherein each have, opposite thepivoting axis of the ribs, a part having a right-angle bend terminatingin a rectilinear appendage; the appendages of the two uprights of a samerib each being engaged telescopically in one of the two ends of arectilinear crossmember constituting, with the said append ages, therectilinear part of the rib whose length is telescopically adjustable.

2. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are providedon each rib to block the rectilinear cross-member on the appendages ofthe uprights in a desired position which depends on the width given tothe blind.

3. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at leastpartial covering of the side cloths by the covering cloth, whatever thewidth given to the blind, is obtained by giving this covering a maximumwidth which, for each rib, is greater than the travel of the telescopicadjustment of the appendages in the rectilinear cross-member.

4. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rectilinearcross-member of each rib has a rounded smooth surface, at least over theentire length of the part on which is freely stretched and allowed toslide the covering cloth.

5. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rectilinearcross-member of each rib is made up of a tube slotted on each end, andin which the said means provided for blocking this cross-member on theappendages, introduced slidingly, each in one of the two ends of thetube, consist of radial clamping screws each of which goes through aslot of the tube and bears on the edges of this slot with its head, onthe side opposite the one on which the covering cloth is stretched.

6. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 2, wherein the part of eachside cloth covering the corresponding ends of the rectilinear parts ofthe ribs is strapped on the end of each rectilinear cross-member by asleeve surrounding this end, traversed and fixed to the end by the meansprovided for blocking the cross-member on the corresponding appendage.

7. A deployable blind designed to be mounted as an awning over anopening such as a window or the like and to be adapted to the width ofthe opening compri mg:

a cloth supporting frame of adjustable width, said frame comprising aplurality of ribs arranged to turn about a common axis between an openposition and a folded position of the frame,

each rib comprising a lateral part on each side extending radiallyoutwardly relative to the said axis, and a rectilinear part extendingbetween and interconnecting the outer ends of the said lateral parts,said rectilinear part being adjustable in width to vary the distancebetween its lateral parts between a maximum frame width and a minimumframe width,

a side cloth attached to the outer side of the lateral parts on eachside of the frame, said side cloth extending over the radial outer endsof its respective lateral parts and extending along the rectilinear parta certain distance which is sufficient to cover the corners formed byits respective lateral parts and the rectilinear parts,

a roller mounted parallel to the said axis in the vicinity of the upperedge of the frame,

a covering cloth arranged to roll up on the said roller in the foldedposition of the frame and to roll out from the roller in the unfoldedposition, said cloth overlying said rectilinear parts and beingconnected only at its front edge to the rectilinear part of theoutermost rib, said covering cloth being stretched freely on the otherribs on which it may slide, said cloth having a width substantiallyequal to the said minimum width of the frame,

and said certain distance which the side cloths extend along therectilinear parts being sufficient to at least slightly overlap the sideedges of the said covering cloth closest thereto when the frame is atits said maximum width.

8. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in order toincrease the possibilities of widening, at least one of the two sidecloths is provided with an extra reserve cloth folded in one or moresuccessive folds on the corresponding ends of the rectilinearcrossmembers and extending perpendicular thereto.

9. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in order toincrease its advance in relation to the opening, the last of the ribs isheld indirectly on this opening by means of a cloth-covered extensionwith parallel ribs identical to those of the blind proper and held atmutual distances by cross-pieces, this extension also being providedwith extendable side cloths and covered by the said covering cloth ofthe blind.

10. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateraluprights are themselves telescopically adjustable in length, side clothsof different dimensions being provided to be adapted to each of thelengths given to these uprights.

11. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 7, said rectilinear partsbeing telescopically adjustable to vary the width of the frame.

12. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 12, the rectilinear part ofeach rib including a pair of outer parts, each integral with one of thelateral parts of the rib and bent from its respective lateral part alongsaid rectilinear part, and a straight cross-member extending between andtelescopically connected to the said outer parts.

1. A deployable blind designed to be mounted as an awning over the frontof a shop window or the like and to be adapted to the width of thisopening, comprising: a. a cloth-supporting frame of adjustable widthmade up of a series of pivoting ribs joined by the ends of their lateraluprights and the rectilinear part of which parallel to the pivoting axisof the said ribs, is telescopically adjustable in length, the last ofthese ribs being held, at least indirectly, on the said opening; b. twoextendable independent side cloths of symmetrical form, each havingsufficient dimensions to cover one of the two lateral parts of the framewhen the blind is deployed as well as the corresponding ends of therectilinear parts of the ribs and fixed on each of the correspondinglateral uprights c. a covering cloth, rolled out from a roller mountedparallel to the upper edge of the opening, having a width substantiallyequal to the minimum length of the telescopically adjustable part of theribs and independent of the side cloths which it covers at leastpartially regardless of the width given to the blind, this coveringcloth being fixed only at its front edge on the first of the ribs andstretched freely on the other ribs on which it may slide, the lateraluprights of the ribs being joined together pivotingly, by articulation,at their ends, and wherein each have, opposite the pivoting axis of theribs, a part having a right-angle bend terminating in a rectilinearappendage; the appendages of the two uprights of a same rib each beingengaged telescopically in one of the two ends of a rectilinearcrossmember constituting, with the said appendages, the rectilinear partof the rib whose length is telescopically adjustable.
 2. A deployableblind as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided on each rib toblock the rectilinear cross-member on the appendages of the uprights ina desired position which depends on the width given to the blind.
 3. Adeployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least partialcovering of the sidE cloths by the covering cloth, whatever the widthgiven to the blind, is obtained by giving this covering a maximum widthwhich, for each rib, is greater than the travel of the telescopicadjustment of the appendages in the rectilinear cross-member.
 4. Adeployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rectilinearcross-member of each rib has a rounded smooth surface, at least over theentire length of the part on which is freely stretched and allowed toslide the covering cloth.
 5. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 2,wherein the rectilinear cross-member of each rib is made up of a tubeslotted on each end, and in which the said means provided for blockingthis cross-member on the appendages, introduced slidingly, each in oneof the two ends of the tube, consist of radial clamping screws each ofwhich goes through a slot of the tube and bears on the edges of thisslot with its head, on the side opposite the one on which the coveringcloth is stretched.
 6. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe part of each side cloth covering the corresponding ends of therectilinear parts of the ribs is strapped on the end of each rectilinearcross-member by a sleeve surrounding this end, traversed and fixed tothe end by the means provided for blocking the cross-member on thecorresponding appendage.
 7. A deployable blind designed to be mounted asan awning over an opening such as a window or the like and to be adaptedto the width of the opening comprising: a cloth supporting frame ofadjustable width, said frame comprising a plurality of ribs arranged toturn about a common axis between an open position and a folded positionof the frame, each rib comprising a lateral part on each side extendingradially outwardly relative to the said axis, and a rectilinear partextending between and interconnecting the outer ends of the said lateralparts, said rectilinear part being adjustable in width to vary thedistance between its lateral parts between a maximum frame width and aminimum frame width, a side cloth attached to the outer side of thelateral parts on each side of the frame, said side cloth extending overthe radial outer ends of its respective lateral parts and extendingalong the rectilinear part a certain distance which is sufficient tocover the corners formed by its respective lateral parts and therectilinear parts, a roller mounted parallel to the said axis in thevicinity of the upper edge of the frame, a covering cloth arranged toroll up on the said roller in the folded position of the frame and toroll out from the roller in the unfolded position, said cloth overlyingsaid rectilinear parts and being connected only at its front edge to therectilinear part of the outermost rib, said covering cloth beingstretched freely on the other ribs on which it may slide, said clothhaving a width substantially equal to the said minimum width of theframe, and said certain distance which the side cloths extend along therectilinear parts being sufficient to at least slightly overlap the sideedges of the said covering cloth closest thereto when the frame is atits said maximum width.
 8. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 7,wherein, in order to increase the possibilities of widening, at leastone of the two side cloths is provided with an extra reserve clothfolded in one or more successive folds on the corresponding ends of therectilinear cross-members and extending perpendicular thereto.
 9. Adeployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in order to increaseits advance in relation to the opening, the last of the ribs is heldindirectly on this opening by means of a cloth-covered extension withparallel ribs identical to those of the blind proper and held at mutualdistances by cross-pieces, this extension also being provided withextendable side cloths and covered by the said covering cloth of theblind.
 10. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateraluprights are themselves telescopically Adjustable in length, side clothsof different dimensions being provided to be adapted to each of thelengths given to these uprights.
 11. A deployable blind as claimed inclaim 7, said rectilinear parts being telescopically adjustable to varythe width of the frame.
 12. A deployable blind as claimed in claim 12,the rectilinear part of each rib including a pair of outer parts, eachintegral with one of the lateral parts of the rib and bent from itsrespective lateral part along said rectilinear part, and a straightcross-member extending between and telescopically connected to the saidouter parts.